LORD MORLEY AND 3111. CHAMBERLAIN. [To THE EnITOs OT ens
" SPECI1,7011."] your review of- Lord Morley's Recollections, speaking of the friendship between Lord Morley and Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, it is stated that " it was Mr. Chamberlain who forced the author into active political life." Tho following incident hardly sup- ports that contention. I was staying at Hig,hbury in the autumn of 1903, and Mr. Chamberlain in the course of conversation related that Mr. John Morley had consulted him when he was con-
sidering the question of entering active political life. Mr. Chamberlain, evidently of the mine opinion as Mr. Matthew Arnold, as appears in your review, argued against his giving up brilliant position as author and journalist for polities. Mr. Morley was apparently convinced, and left bins with the im- pression that he would give up the idea. A short time after Mr. Morley again called and reverted to the subject, and Mr. Chamberlain repeated his argument and again thought that Mr. Morley had abandoned the idea of taking up politics actively. After another interval of time Mr. Morley for the third time approached Mr. Chamberlain, who met him by saying that he saw his mind was made up and that he would not say a word further to dissuade him, but would welcome him and would do his utmost to further his wish to get into Parliament and take op active political life. This conversation, which was not private, may be of interest. I have a very distinct recollection of the words used by Mr. Chamberlain.—I am, Sir, Sc., X.
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